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However, I am sure that if I were to write a book about the US, every 10-20 pages, a reader native to the US would almost certainly exclaim - oh. In sum, I would say that the author's writing style is entertaining but I would take his analysis with a few lumps of salt. It is one person's observations who has a point of view. The author completely missed the golden age of India from 3rd to 6th century AD, when the Guptas ruled most of India for several hundred years and during whose time India made so many contributions to the arts (Ajanta, Elora, Kalidas), architecture (the great temples), math (zero, the decimal system), science, astronomy, law etc. I have lived in the US for many years now. It is only natural for a journalist, who spends a few years in India, dividing his time between the various countries of the subcontinent, to miss a lot more than what I would miss about the US. That is OK.
I agree with some of the criticisms leveled against it by some other reviewers, like the book seems to be a juxtaposition of facts, observations and conclusions, lacking a central thread to unite them. I am originally from India. And then he claims that India basically splintered into many smaller pieces until Akbar, the moghul emperor reunited the country in the 1500s. The US and others did this to put pressure on India to back away from its aggressive posture so that their plans in Afghanistan would not be disrupted. I will cite only a few.The author claims that Ashok (from 300BC) is considered the greatest Indian king/ruler of all time. Between Ashok and Akbar, there were many periods and rulers when most of India was under one rule.The author claims that Gandhi understood that unlike the other colonialists from Europe, the British were susceptible to argument. I have voted in two election cycles. This guy's understanding of this is incomplete or wrong.
I am a news junkie and I consider myself to be fairly well-informed. It does not bother me that the book is mostly condescending. And the British still would not have given up India (what a laughable idea in itself) were it not for World War II which effectively bankrupted the empire and left them short of manpower and finances to keep hanging on to a non-cooperative colony.The author claims that the Indian policy makers are blind and deaf to the reading the nuclear posture of Pakistan and this could lead to a catastrophe. The author hasn't even read his own (British) history well. And Gandhi used the power of his arguments to win independence for India.
this guy did not get that, or, oh. The information for a large part, is incomplete, and often wrong. His analysis cannot be any better than that, assuming the author is good at analyzing. I have read quite a few books on India written by non-Indian authors, some of them quite good, the others just average.I rated this book a 3. It was not his arguments but the policy of non-cooperation that cause the British some pain.
Gandhi used non-violence as a method to implement a policy, of non-cooperation, with the British. He cites the period after the attacks on the Indian Parliament in 2002 when India and Pakistan almost came to blows. He claims that Pakistanis explicitly kept saying that all options were open, while the Indians and their hyperventilating media maintained that there was no such danger. And a lot of the hype about a nuclear confrontation was just that, hype created by Western governments and media to that end.There are many other instances.
However, it suffers from some other more serious flaws.For example, the book, like many other books written about a country or a culture by a writer who is not a native of that country, did not provide an understanding of India or its culture beyond scratching the surface. What the author failed to observe is that many Western countries lead by the US and the UK had issued serious travel advisories against India and most foreign businesses were putting their operations in India on hold or thinking about pulling out altogether. But the problem arises when such a person tries to cover too much ground starting with ancient history to the present day, and covers too many topics, and to top it all, tries to analyze the information he has compiled. There are too many things to point out in the book that I found were either factually incomplete, or incorrect.
And all this while, most of the western press kept ringing the alarm bells.
As to chaos, the author said that it seemed the Indians managed in spite of the chaos for the most part.As one guru I read liked to say, India would be better off if it adopted Western efficiency and organization, but adhered to true Eastern morality - I think he may be right about that about India and everywhere else as well.There is a lot of room for hope as the book explains in detail. He did give helpful references now and then to link things up.As to some surprises, I have always viewed India as somewhat chaotic, but still down deep a gentle culture - admittedly, I have never been there. Overall, I thought it was a great book, and I recommend it. government is reaching out to help India now more than before, but perhaps to make it a counterweight to China.
Of course, the author was writing on something that made the layout he chose best I think. This is a book on India by Edward Luce subtitled: The Strange Rise of Modern India. I found it interesting how China and Pakistan were compared and contrasted with India. He seems to know where to go and who to talk to about everything. This book was an eye-opener about serious crime, corruption, cruelty and growing (bad type) consumerism.
It seems that the U.S. He is also even-handed in his analysis of what he finds I think.If you have any interest in India or current affairs generally, you should read this book; I hope people from India can agree. That being said, I did find the book a bit confusing at times given that it is laid out by subject and not on a timeline. I see India as a more natural ally than China for the U.S. The silver lining seemed to come mostly in how the poor can be very generous with what little they have.
This is not to say that all the upper classes/those in power are bad people and don't care, but many are and their bad behavior is too often tolerated - at least according to this book. and less of a rival, perhaps because Indian culture is more like ours than Chinese.I think I would like to visit India with the author as tour guide. Of course, there have been many "events" since this book came out, but I guess what is said here is still accurate.
Beyond economics, an insightful account of the politics of caste, the up to date assessment of the Kashmir issue, and glimpse into the failures and achievements of the state. Fantastic assessment of India. Economics, history, politics, it's all here. The book is a journalist's account, not an attempt to provide in-depth, economic or political examination. You will enjoy his brilliant writing style and natural curiosity about a place that is so rich despite being so poor.
The book is really short on the facts and shockingly full of opinions. I have spent three fourth of my life in India and rest outside learning about other cultures. Couple of disclaimers first. I don't recommend that you do not read the book but if you indeed decide on reading the book, please keep in mind that you are reading a medley of fiction, fantasy, opinion with some facts and truth sprinkled on it. I met a wonderful American couple on the plane on my way to India and they recommended the book as a true window to India. I read the book and frankly felt very sorry for the couple and India alike because this book is like "an elementary school essay that claims to be written by an expert". To give you an example IN SPITE of having an Indian for a wife Mr. Luce can't get even THE GODS and their function in India mythology right.The best way to describe this book - as "authentic" as ethnic food at an airport, or an "authentic" cultural experience at a tourist trap.
Within the past several years, numerous books have been published about so-called "Chindia," the phenomenon of the economic emergence of the two most populous nations on earth. getAbstract recommends this excellent, well-written work of reportage on India. Edward Luce provides a colorful, striking picture of the country and its unconventional path to development. Luce makes it very clear that categorizing India with any other place, including the ever-intriguing China, is probably analytical and intellectual sloth. India presents such overwhelming, bewildering complexity that onlookers must take it on its own unique terms.
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